When I walked into Thierry Drefus’ aged mirrors firmly planted on the wooden floors of the Invisible Dog – it was during the opening of (naked) absence – (blinding) presence, which also coincided with their holiday dinner party back in December. The entire space being spliced by these large reflections, instantly drew me to knowing who was the artist behind the installation. Eiji Sumi soon joined the party, and over a bowl of homemade cocktail, the artist Thierry Dreyfus introduced himself and advised us to see his other piece in the back of the gallery. Walking through the door, the room opened up to something of a lucid dream. The diffused light changed the dimensions of the air, and without knowing what to expect, I became in sync with the heartbeat that was intensely thumping in the background. Peaking in and out of the white shadows is a godly figurative sculpture. Then, hearing muffled voices from other human figures, the magic spell was broken. A few weeks later, after the artist returned to Paris, I decided to investigate Sir Thierry Dreyfus, an internationally renowned and respected artist, through the eyes of a New York based emerging lighting artist, Eiji Sumi. Both artists, living in influential cities, tell their stories using the element of light. Continue Reading More »

Artcards Featured Event: Low Tide Chorus is tonight! We will all be there, so come say hello.

7-10PM at The Invisible Dog
$12 / pay at door

(indigo poster editions: HatnDesign)

The Pseudo-Nym Project makes a toast to life, at least in the artists’ perspective. Inspired by Rrose Sélavy – one of Marcel Duchamp’s pseudonyms, the artists in this group show lay completely anonymous until the closing reception. I can understand the playful freedom that the artists and curator gets under the mysterious curtain. Wasn’t that how the dadaists played the game? The Pseudo-Nym Project opens at the Invisible Dog on October 2nd. The only small leak about the artists is that they’ve been shown in The New Museum, Venice Biennale, The Tate Gallery, Istanbul Biennial, The Whitney Museum, and Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. For those who are just as curious as I am to see who’s behind the show, stop by the opening party and celebrate with the artists.

Image courtesy of The Collective Zazazozo for Pseudonym Project / The Invisible Dog

A few weeks ago, when I got an invite from Lucien Zayan, owner of the gallery The Invisible Dog to see an exhibition of a giant ant, I choked. Then I watched a short animation of the giant ant housed inside the space and thought it was some sort of an advanced technology art project created by Europeans, because it’s so out-of-the-box. I didn’t bother read more about the show, prefering to keep it ambiguous, and persuaded a few friends to come along for a surprise at the opening on Saturday.

Outside the Invisible Dog it seemed like any normal quiet night, but stepping inside the huge space the atmosphere shifted. In front of me was a looming white ball with raw steel sticking out from all sides. I was totally amazed at how bare they kept the gallery space to accomodate this giant. It seemed almost sad, but after reading the touching story behind it, I can see how it fits in to the theme. The ant was created to symbolize the trains transporting Jews and other nazi victims to concentration camps, and was inspired by the poet Robert Desnos. I didn’t get to meet the artist Xavier Roux, who conceptualized the project, but ran into Lucien with congratulating words.

I liked the ant. I’m sure the children running around it enjoyed it even more. And the hat was a nice touch. My only wish is that they set the ant free when it gets warmer outside.

the ant head

the sculpture is at least 60 feet long

Helen Wu with the owner/gallery director Lucien Zayan